Electrode holder



May 27, 1930.

H. BROCK ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Dec. '7, 1926 gwmahtoo Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEINRICH BROOK, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO DE'I. NORSKE AKTIESELSKAB FOR ELEKTROKEMISK INDUSTRI OF NORWAY, OF OSLO, NORWAY ELECTRODE HOLDER Application filed December 7, 1926, Serial No. 153,176, and in Germany December 7, 1925.

This invention relates to electrode holders for electrodes used in electric furnaces and the like and the object of the invention is a device whereby the lowering of the electrode may be effected with greater facility than when employing the holders heretofore known.

The electrodes for electric smelting furnaces are mostly held in place .by means of 1 clamps being pressed against the electrode and thereby causin sufficient friction to prevent the electrode irom sliding into the furnace. These clamps generally also transmit the electric current to the electrode. The

pressure on said clamps is effected either by means of wedges or set-screws or by means of hollow members whose sides facing the electrode are pressed thereonto hydraulically, said sides respectively acting as pressure clamps, while the opposite sides of said hollow members register with a solid ring.

As the electrodes are consumed during the smelting operation they must at certain intervals be adjusted or replaced.

To do this is very awkward especially as the handling of the screws or wedges or any other devices takes place close to the furnace.

For safety the current must be interrupted before loosening the pressure ring whereby a stop of production is incurred.

By the hydraulic transmission of pressure the above mentioned difficulties are avoided. It is however necessary to employ an accumulator which will continually exert the pressure required; otherwise the electrode might by an accident slide into the furnace which would involve great danger.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid these difficulties. This is attained by replacing the wedges, screws or other members with pistons which by means of springs exert the required pressure on the electrode holder clamps. When the electrode is to be lowered the pressure on the pistons must be released. This is effected by applying air,- or watecepressure on the piston ends opposite to the springs whereby the pressure on the ei ect rode holder clamps? is released.

The regulating of the air or water presthe drawing forming part of this application. Fig. 1 is an elevation of my holder showing a ring or supporting member with 8 pistons. Fig. 2 is a horizontal view of the holder. The ring or supporting member forms a hollow body and is cooled by running water. ater also circulates around the cylinders in which the pistons move. In the drawing 1 represents cooling chambers, 2 are cylinders, 3 is the hollow ring, 4 is the lid of the cylinder, 5 are istons, 6 are spring? 7 bolts, 8 are electro e holder clamps w ich as shown are shaped to make good electrical contact with the electrode and are adapted to convey the current thereto, 9 is the electrode, 10 is inlet for the release pressure.

In the illustration used the electrode is round in cross section and the ring is circular, but it is obvious that the invention is readily applicable to other shapes of electrodes such for instance, as square, oblong, or oval, and that the ring may be shaped as desired to operate in connection with the shape of electrode chosen. Hence ring as used in the claims, is not to be limited to a circular structure, but is intended to include any shape found expedient and desirable.

The above example has been given for illustrative purposes only and no undue limitation should be deduced therefrom but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

' I claim:

1. An electrode holder comprising a ring, a series of pistons mounted therein, a series of clamps adapted to engage the electrode,

and. series of springs individually acting on said pistons and exerting suificient pressure therethrough and against the clamps to support and hold the electrode.

2. An electrode holder comprising a ring which surrounds anelectrode, a series of cylinders carried in the ring, and arranged radi- 2 1,7eo,seu

ally with respect to the electrode, a series of pistons carried in the cylinders, a series/of springs normally exerting pressure on the pistons toward t e center of the r ng to sup- 5 port the electrode and to. maintain an adequate electrical contact with the'electrode, a

series of clamps adapted to engage the electrode, and means transmitting the pressure from the pistons to the clamps.

3. Electrode holder comprising a ring, pistons connected therewith and springs exerting suflicient pressure on said p stons to support the electrode said pressure being transmitted to the electrode and fluid pressure means for releasing said pressure on the electro e. i

4. Electrode holder comprising a ring, pistons connected therewith and springs exerting suflicient pressure on said pistons to support the'electrode and means for applying fluid-pressure on the piston ends opposite to the springs thereby releasing the pressure on the electrode. a

' 5. An electrode holder comprising a hol- 35 low fluid-cooled ring having a plurality of cylinders therein exposed externallto the cooling medium, pistons mounted within the cylinders, springs arranged within the cylinders and constantly exerting their force against the pistons inwardly of the ring, a series of electrode clamps disposed inside of the ring and adapted to engage the electrode, means'between the pistons and clamps for transmitting the pressure on thepistons to the clamps, and means for applying fluid pressure on the pistons in opposition to the springs for releasing the pressure on the clamps. 7 K

6. An electrode holder including a series w of clamps having electrode-engaging surfaces so shaped as to make good electrical contact with the electrode and adapted to convey electric current thereto, a supporting member, springs compressed between the sup- 5 porting member andsaid clamps causing said clamps to make good electrical contact with the electrode, and means actuated by fluid pressure for compressin said springs to release the pressure u on t e clamps.

so INRIOH BROOK.- 

